Boston College Law School has established the Resident Attorney Program, an apprenticeship jobs program for recent law school graduates. The concept is launching in partnership with PTC Inc., a technology company focused on transforming the way companies create, operate, and service their products. PTC will hire and provide substantive legal experience to recent BC Law graduates for a one-year apprentice period that is renewable for up to an additional year. At PTC, participants will also be considered for permanent in-house positions if available.
“This is a terrific way for new graduates to learn on the job while providing businesses and other legal employers with reasonably priced talent they can shape to their own needs,” said BC Law Dean Vincent Rougeau. “The experience provides greatly enhanced marketability for the new lawyers early on in their careers.”
Aaron von Staats ’91 (pictured above), general counsel of PTC, was instrumental in launching the program. Two 2014 graduates, Maria Korjenevitch and Deanna Osganian, have been hired by PTC for the inaugural legal apprenticeship program. Korjenevitch and Osganian will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in PTC’s global legal department and gain significant early experience in the corporate law setting. Von Staats expects that the two Resident Attorneys will be exposed to a range of areas, including mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law, technology agreements, employment law matters, commercial real estate, litigation, and various department projects. In the increasingly regulated landscape, they will also work to support and enhance compliance programs. As part of the in-house legal department, the Resident Attorneys will have the opportunity to participate in various professional development activities such as those hosted by the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Heather Hayes, BC Law’s assistant dean for career services, and the Career Services team worked closely with von Staats to develop the program and pricing, and to find the right students to match the positions. Hayes is excited to expand the program to other business, law firm, and public sector employers who are able to make the one-year hire commitment to a new graduate this fall or next spring.
“Given the continued challenges in the legal market, we have some tremendous talent who would make real contributions,” Hayes said.
“Companies have an obligation to provide training to recent graduates as they enter the workforce,” added von Staats. “This program is part of PTC’s effort to meet that obligation.”
Alumni and other employers who are interested in getting involved in the program should contact Dean Hayes at heather.hayes@bc.edu.